Il Pellicano

In a way, Il Pellicano's location is notable for its lack of competing attractions. Many of Italy’s most extraordinary hotels are set in places that are elbow-to-elbow with hotels, and just as packed with travelers. Not so here. This region of southern Tuscany, the Maremma, was undiscovered country for international travelers when Il Pellicano opened its doors in the Sixties. And even today, under the ownership of the same family’s next generation, Il Pellicano is a destination unto itself.

It’s certainly got all the ingredients: a gorgeous (if rocky) coastline, a spectacular view of the Tyrrhenian Sea, and some of the finest weather in the Mediterranean. And the relative isolation of Il Pellicano is a large part of its charm — this place feels private in a way few hotels, even high-end ones, can match.

None of which would matter if Il Pellicano itself weren’t a thoroughly impressive hotel in its own right. But it is. The guest rooms are classic in style and exceedingly well outfitted; the finest ones come with balconies or terraces that provide jaw-dropping sea views. Winding pathways negotiate terraced gardens all the way down to the private beach, though many guests prefer the swimming pool, with its own dramatic cliffside perch — and the finest views just might be those from the terrace of the hotel’s flagship Ristorante Il Pellicano.